Trash and garbage can holder



March 15, 1966 H. R. sPoHN, JR

TRASH AND GARBAGE CAN HOLDER Filed Nov. 18, 1965 R. mm d WN, a 1 mw 0 am y May 5 7 R i L( ,V mw SS/ M A w 56% www a/WY MRI Qu e. I F

u M 7 2 l! l I F United States Patent O 3,240,459 TRASH AND GARBAGE CAN HOLDER Homer R. Spohn, Jr., Battle Creek, Mich. (119 N. Mayfield Ave., Chicago, Ill.) Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,466 Claims. (Cl. 248-146) This invention relates to a support mechanism for garbage cans, trash containers, and the like and, in particular, to a support mechanism for removably supporting a substantially rigid garbage or trash can having pivoted side handles, a flanged bottom, and the usual removable cover.

The tipping over of 4garbage cans by children at play, stray animals, and the like, has for years constituted a real nuisance to housewives and others who are required to clean up the resulting mess. To avoid this spilling problem, there has been proposed and sold a harness for releasably hold-ing the cover of a garbage can in vplace even whenthe can has been knocked over. Even concrete wells with heavy closures have been provided in the ground to protect a garbage can recessed therein from being knocked over and its contents spilled. The hang- .ing of a garbage can by one ofits handles on a post with a side support for the lower portion of the garbage can has been resorted to, but without the stability attainable when the garbage can is supported on lits bottom while being clamped in place at its bottom. It was a recognition of these and other problems in this art which led to the conception Iand development of the present invention.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention is the provision of means for supporting a garbage can or trash container in elevated position on a post with ythe can stabilized at its side adjacent the top thereof while its bottom is supported and clamped.

Another object of this invention is to provide a special yform of garbage can bottom support where the can bottom has a depending flange Iall around its bott-om with such flange extending free of said bottom support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support fitting inside a downwardly extending bottom flange of a garbage can or the like, with said support coming up against the inner edge of said ange `at one side of said can, and with resilient means outside of said can adjacent its bottom for clamping said bottom support against the inner edge of said bottom flange.

A further object of this invention is to provide a highly simplified garbage can or trash container support which elevates the can above the ground to a convenient level, and yet supports and grips the can in place in manner easy for the garbage or rubbish collector to operate in both removing a can for emptying and returning same for refilling once more.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the container supporting means herinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawing:

FIGURE l is a perspective view on a reduced scale of a preferred embodiment of the container mounting means of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the container mounting means shown in FIGURE 1 with same installed and a container supported thereon.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional top view taken on line III-III of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View of the container bottom supporting portion of the assembly taken on line IV-IV of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the larrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be noted that the supporting mechanism 5 utilizes a post 6 which extends into the ground `and is preferably provided with a pin or bolt 7 which can be used for stabilizing said post against turning or shifting, as shown in FIGURE 2, where the lower portion of post 6 extends into an anchoring block of cement 8. The garbage can or trash container 9 is mountable on post 6 as will now be described.

Mounted on post 6 yis 4a bracket 10 having a horizontal leg 11 and a vertical leg 12. This Vertical leg 12 and post 6 are perforated in alinement for the reception of bolts 13 and 14 which are used to fasten bracket 10 on post 6. While bracket 10 can be made sufficiently heavy for adequately self-supporting a garbage or trash container 9 when loaded, I prefer to use a brace member 15, as shown in the drawing, and with the lower end 16 of same being bent to line up and overlie the lower end of vertical leg 12 of bracket 10, and with a perforation so that bolt 13 can be used to anchor the lower end of brace 15 in place as shown. The upper end 17 of brace 15 is likewise bent to fit aga-inst t-he lower outer end of horizontal leg 11 -of bracket 10 and is perforated so Ias to be anch-cred to the latter by means of bolti18 in conventional manner.

yMounted on top of horizontal leg 11 of bracket 10` is a Can supporting plate 19. This can supporting plate is preferably elevated a small amount at its end adjacent post 6, and this may be accomplished by means of a space washer 20 having a suitable size perforation through same. The can support-ing plate 19 and the horizontal leg 11 of bracket 10 are perforated in alinement with said washer perforation so that same can be fastened together by means of a bolt 21 as shown in FIGURE 4. The outermost corners 22 and 23 of can supporting plate 19 are preferably rounded and bent upward so that their tips are at approximately the same horizontal elevation as the back edge 25 of supporting plate 19 adjacent post 6, which thus gives a three-point support for a garbage can or trash container 9 to be ultimately mounted thereon, and with the can supporting plate 19 being wholly within the downwardly extending flange 24 of said can 9. The form and mounting of supporting plate 19 as shown is to be considered as diagrammatic of the various forms of said plate and the way of mounting same which can be used in like manner. This back edge 25 of the can supportingplate 19 is preferably arcuate so as to be slightly smaller than the curvature of the depending flange on the smallest bottom of a garbage can o-r trash container 9 to be mounted on the supporting mechanism 5. 'Ilhe can supporting plate 19 can also be partially cut away at 25 to provide a pair of contacting points for engaging the inner edge of flange 24, and the drawing is intended to be considered as diagrammatically illustrating same. The outer end of this can supporting plate 19 is also perforated in alinement with the perforations in the outer end of bracket 10 and brace 15 so that bolt 18 can be used to bind the assembly together as shown in FIGURE 4. In some cases the sides of the `garbage can or trash container 9 are tapered more drastically than at other times, and in order to take care of this situation the can supporting plate 19 is preferably provided with additional perforations 26 so that such plate can be adjustably shifted to or from post 6 as required, and it is intended that same be considered as diagrammatically showing other adjusting means of equivalent nature, such as slots. It is also to be noted that some garbage cans or trash containers 9 have varying depth iianges 24, and in order to take care of this situation and provide adequate clearance the horizontal leg 1,1 of bracket 10 is preferably provided with a downwardly offset portion 27 adjacent post 6.

The binding of the inner edge of downwardly extending flanges 24 of the garbage can or trash container 9 against the back edge 25 of the can supporting plate 19 is accomplished by means of the apparatus which will now be described. Post 6` is provided with horizontally alined perforationsZS, FIGURE 4, for the reception of a suitable rod or bolt 29 having mounted on its end adjacent can 9 a suitably shaped gripping member 30, the outer ends of which, for stability, are preferably adapted to engage the side of can 9 in spaced relation, as more particularly shown in FIGURE 3. A suitable compression spring 31 is mounted on rod 29 between post 6 and gripping member to project the latter outward from post 6 and into hrm engagement with the side of can 9, thus binding the downwardly extending flange 24 of lsame against the arcuate back edge 25 of the can supporting plate 19 to provide a stable gripping of t-he can in place on the can supporting plate 19. In preferred construction, rod 29 will be threaded for the reception of a suitable nut 32, which can be of firm gripping type, such as of the conventional self-holding lock nut type, for holding the gripping assembly in place. Ifdesired, a -wa-sher 33 can be placed on rod 29 between post 6 and nut 32 in conventional manner.

The stabilizing of the upper portion of the garbage can or trash container 9 is accomplished by means of a hook bracket 34, having an upwardly extending hook end 35 which is adapted to engage the container handle 36, as shown in FIGURE 2. This hook bracket is preferably perforated in ralinement with perforations in post 6 and anchored to the latter by means of bolts 37 and 38. Since `garbage cans or trash containers 9 are conventionally of differentlengths, additional perforations 39 are provided so that the hook bracket 34 can be adjusted to various desirable positions. The showing of these additional perforations 39 is intended to be considered as diagrammatically showing slots or other means for conventionally adjusting hook bracket 34 up and down post 6 to meet the requirements for engagem-ent wit-h handle 36 as shown in FIGURE 2.

With the hook bracket 34 located in desired position for engaging a handle 36 of garbage can or trash container 9, the installation of such garbage can on the supporting mechanism merely involves bringing the can up to the post 6 Iin elevated position and engaging its handle 36 on hook vbracket 34 with the lower outer edge of the can 9 engaging the face of gripper member 30. The bottom of can 9 is then pushed towards posty 6 to compress spring 31 until flange 24 of the can 9 will pass over the inner edge 25 of the previously positioned can supporting plate 19. The can or container 9 is then lowered until its bottom rests on the supporting portions 25, 23 and 22 of said can supporting plate, and then the container is allowed to move so that the compression pressure of compression spring 31 on the gripping member 30 tightly grips ange 24 of container 9 against the back edge 25 of supporting plate 19 with the handle 36 fof can 9, as noted, resting in the hook end 35 of hook bracket 34. This places the can 9 in supported position, ready for use, and when such can is to be removed, it is merely a matter of pushing against the side of can 9 to compress spring 31 and thus free the can for upward lifting and removal from the supporting mechanism 5.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be seen that advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the invention. Therefore, the embodiment shown in the drawing is merely for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention set forth. Directional terms such as upper, lower, horizontaL vertical, elevated, up, down, et cetera, have also been used to facilitate describing the garbage and trash container holder in the position shown in the drawing, and accordingly are not to be considered as limit-ing on the invention.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided thel means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A support mechanism for' removably supporting a container for trash or garbage, with saidcentainer hav= ing at least one sidewise projecting handle on the side thereof, and a flange forming a shallow recessed bottoni portion, the combination which comprises a post, a @one tainer supporting bracket, means mounting said suppot= ing bracket on said post, a supporting plate for a con; tainer, means mounting said supporting plate on said bracket in position to t into the shallow recessed bottom of a container with a portion of the edge of said supportd ing plate adjacent said post adapted to be up against the inner edge of said flange, resilient means carried by said post and forpressing said llange against the portion of the edge of said supporting plate which is inside of said flange and adjacent said post, andholding `means above said bracket and extending outward from said post for receiving and holding the handle of a container while the latter rests on and is 'gripped against said supporting plate.

2. A support mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supporting bracket has a downwardly olset upper portion adjacent said post, means fastening said supporting plate on said bracket so as to overhang said offset por tion and yet be spaced from said post in position to support the bottom of a container having a hanged edge butA tom with said supporting plate up against the inner face of said flange at least at the edge portion of same adjacent said post.

3. A support mechanism as setforth in claim l, Where`= in said handle holding means is in the form of a hook bracket with the hook end'iof same opening upwardly and for receiving the lhandle of a container.

4. A support mechanism as set forth in claim 1, Wherein said reslientmeans carried by said post has a contacting means for engagement with the side of a container, a movable support for said contacting means, and a resilient member constantly exerting pressure, under conditions of use, on said contacting means to force same against the side -of a container resting on sa-id supporting plate with at lea-st the adjacent edge portion of the latter adapted to be Within the shallow recessed bottom portion of a container and up against the inner face of the flange thereof.

5. A support mechanism .as set forth in claim 4, wherein said movable support lis a rod, said post being pers` forated fory the close but free sliding reception of said rod `in position to move to and from a container, and said resilient member is a compression spring mounted on said -rod between said post and said contacting means for engagement with the side of a container and of -a length to operably press said side contacting means firmly against alcontainer when the latter is mounted on said supporting pate.

6. A supporting mechanism having a bracket means mounted on a post and on which a container for trash `or garbage may be supported and held, the combination therewith of a means carried by said post for stabilizing the upper side of :a contain-er when supported on said post, and means carried by said post for resiliently gripping the bottom of a container in fixed position while,- the latter is supported and held on said bracket means.

7. .A support mechanism for removably supporting a container for trash or `garbage,fwith said container having; at least one sidewise projecting handle on the side there.-4 of and a flange formingl a shallow recesseigltI bottom poretou, the combination which comprises a pnsgalcqntainer;

supporting bracket having a downwardly recessed rupper portion adjacent said post, means mounting said supporting bracket on said post, a supporting plate for a container, means -adjustably mounting said supporting plate on said bracket in position for at least the portion thereof adjacent said post to t into the shallow recessed bottom :of a container with a portion of the edge of said supporting plate which is adjacent said post adapted to be up against the inner side of said flange, resilient means carried by said post in position to press said flange against the portion of the edge of said supporting plate which is inside of said flange and adjacent said post, holding means on said post directly above said bracket and having a hook end and extending outward from said post for receiving and holding the handle of a container while the latter rests on and is gripped against the edge of said supporting plate adjacent said post, and means for adjustably positioning said holding means for vertical adjustment on said post to hold the handle when a container is resting and held on said supporting plate.

8. A supporting mechanism as set forth in claim 7, wherein said supporting plate for a container extends substantially to the top of said recess at least at the edge portion of same adjacent said post.

9. A supporting mechanism as set forth in claim 7, wherein said resilient means carried by said post has a contacting means in engagement with the side of a container, a movable support for said contacting means, and a 4resilient member constantly exerting pressure, under conditions of use, on said contacting means to force same against the side of a container resting on said supporting plate.

10. A lsupport mechanism a-s set forth in claim 9, wherein said movable support is 'a rod, said post being perfo-rated -for the close but free sliding reception of said rod in position to m-ove to and from a container, and said resilient member is a compression spring mount-ed on said rod between said post and -said contacting means in engagement with .a container yand of a length to operably press `said side contacting means rmly against a container when the latter is mounted on said supporting plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,448,456 8/1948 Niskanen et al. 248-156 2,690,893 10/1954 Mokhiber 248--146 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING A CONTAINER FOR TRASH OR GARBAGE, WITH SAID CONTAINER HAVING AT LEAST ONE SIDEWISE PROJECTING HANDLE ON THE SIDE THEREOF, AND A FLANGE FORMING A SHALLOW RECESSED BOTTOM PORTION, THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES A POST, A CONTAINER SUPPORTING BRACKET, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORTING BRACKET ON SAID POST, A SUPPORTING PLATE FOR A CONTAINER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORT PLATE ON SAID BRACKET IN POSITION TO FIT INTO THE SHALLOW RECESSED BOTTOM OF A CONTAINER WITH A PORTION OF THE EDGE OF SAID SUPPORTING PLATE ADJACENT SAID POST ADAPTED TO BE UP AGAINST THE INNER EDGE OF SAID FLANGE, RESILIENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID POST AND FOR PRESSING SAID FLANGE AGAINST THE PORTION OF THE 